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The Pull List #102 – April 13 2017

A weekly column in which Jake gives short blurbs about the comics he’s picked up that week. Reviewed in the order read, which varies but generally by increasing anticipation. Disclaimer: he knows very little about art, at least not enough to considerably honor such tremendous undertakings, so…yeh, there’s that.

Rat Queens #2

Writer: Kurtis J. Wiebe/Artist: Owen Gieni

Letterer: Ryan Ferrier/Image

The Rat Queens are two issues into their new series and one of them has already been eaten by a giant monster. Things look a bit grim for our favorite female adventurers. Issue 2 brings us a bit more clues to the continuity of this volume to the last one, though several big questions are left unasked. Gieni’s style, boon to the series that it is, is on full display here, and, barring a few timing miscues, is incredibly successful. Rat Queens is moving in all the right directions.

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #19

Writer: Ryan North/Artist: Erica Henderson

Color Artist: Rico Renzi/Letterer: Travis Lanham/Marvel

Dang, turns out Squirrel Girl’s new mentor was actually a bad guy who could control all animals via brain waves and has effectively neutralized SG via the suit that she gifted Doreen. Dang, you guys. North effectively ups the stakes without losing any of the series’s trademark sass and humor. Henderson’s work, per usual, is flawless and she and Renzi fit the tone of every scene perfectly. USG has been a great combination of fun and fretful, which actually isn’t the best word to describe it, but I can’t think of a more appropriate one to complete the alliteration.

Writer: Kieron Gillen/Artist: Jamie McKelvie

Colorist: Matthew Wilson/Letterer: Clayton Cowles/Image

Detective Comics #954

Writer: James Tynion IV/Artist: Marcio Takara

Colors: Marcelo Maiolo/Letters: Sal Cipriano/DC Comics

With the team all taken by the League of Shadows, Batman alone confronts Ra’s Al Ghul in the Batcave…whose here to ask for help? Tynion’s plot weaves in intricate circles and it is truly a sight to behold. The amount of continuity and character work on display is incredible. Takara’s lines are heavy and dark, which suits some scenes better than others. Maiolo’s colors do their best to compliment, but sometimes it is not enough. Still, Detective Comics is building towards something truly special.

So what did you pick up this week? Agree or disagree with anything said here?